Georgia Trend Daily – March 5, 2020
March 5, 2020 Georgia.gov
Kemp, Carr: Watch Out for Coronavirus Scams
Staff reports that Governor Brian P. Kemp and Attorney General Chris Carr are warning Georgia residents to watch out for scams related to the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). These include websites selling bogus products, as well as fake emails, texts, and social media posts designed to steal people’s money and personal information.
March 5, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
From the Publisher: Broadband Needs
Ben Young writes, as the 2020 legislative session wraps up, many are anxious to see how Georgia’s broadband funding for rural areas turns out. There is hope for action. But that hope is in the face of declining budget revenues partially due to a 2018 state income tax reduction.
March 5, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Airlines scramble to adjust to drop in travel as coronavirus spreads
Kelly Yamanouchi reports that the coronavirus outbreak is causing travelers to cancel trips, companies to cut business travel and meeting planners to cancel conventions — also driving down business for airlines.
March 5, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
State Farm suspends non-essential travel due to the coronavirus
Grace Donnally reports that insurance company State Farm has restricted all non-essential travel for employees due to the spread of the coronavirus. The Bloomington, Ill.-based company is the 15th-largest employer in Atlanta, with approximately 7,000 workers in the metro area.
March 5, 2020 GPB
Delta Adds New Procedures, Travel Restrictions Due To Coronavirus
Sarah Rose reports that Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines has made changes to its cleaning procedures, is waiving flight change fees and is restricting travel to certain countries in response to the spread of the newly identified coronavirus.
March 5, 2020 Rome News-Tribune
2 more Republicans join U.S. rep race in Northwest Georgia; Democrats scarce so far
Diane Wagner reports that more Republicans qualified Wednesday to seek the 14th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Graves R-Ranger. Former state school superintendent John Barge and former state senator Bill Hembree bring the number of GOP candidates to seven so far.
March 5, 2020 Gwinnett Daily Post, Capitol Beat News
Bills sharpening rules on pharmacy drug prices in Georgia pass House
Beau Evans reports that legislation aimed at tightening rules on third-party companies that play a role in negotiating pharmaceutical drug prices between insurers and local pharmacies in Georgia passed the state House Wednesday. Companies called pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) act as go-betweens for prescribers and insurance companies that contract with health insurers to negotiate lower drug prices for patients.
March 5, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Celebrating manufacturing
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance (GMA) recently celebrated its 12th anniversary with a special program at Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville. The event attracted industry leaders from around the state who came to support GMA’s contributions to manufacturing in Georgia.
March 5, 2020 WABE 90.1
Ga. Senate Committee Passes Bill That Would Expand Special Needs Voucher Program
Martha Dalton reports that more students could soon qualify for one of the state’s school voucher programs. A bill that would expand the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (GSNS) is advancing through the legislature.
March 5, 2020 Albany Herald
Carden Summers edges Jim Quinn to take Senate 13 seat
Tom Seegmueller reports that voters in Georgia Senate District 13 had their say in a special run-off election Tuesday, and when the polls closed and the ballots were counted, a number of things became evident. First and foremost, Carden H. Summers from Crisp County was the winner of the runoff, garnering 6,273 votes (51.96%) to Jim Quinn’s 5,799 (48.04%).
March 5, 2020 Gainesville Times
Firefighter, business owner Derrick McCollum running for State House District 103
Megan Reed reports that Derrick McCollum, a firefighter, veteran and business owner, is running to represent District 103 in the Georgia House of Representatives. State Rep. Timothy Barr, R-Lawrenceville, currently holds the seat and has qualified to run for reelection.
March 5, 2020 Georgia Recorder
Ga. House leaders back paid parental leave for 250,000 state workers
Jill Nolin reports that a freshman lawmaker has proposed expanding paid parental leave to the state’s public employees as Republicans broaden their recent embrace of a policy change they had previously long resisted.
March 5, 2020 The Center Square
Georgia Senate approves flat-fee tax for ride-share trips
Nyamekye Daniel reports that the Georgia Senate pushed forward a bill Wednesday that would add a flat-fee tax for ride-sharing trips instead of sales tax. Language added to House Bill 105 would require riders to pay 50 cents a ride-share trip or 25 cents a pool ride in place of an 8.9 percent sales tax.
March 5, 2020 All On Georgia
Bill Would Halt Civil Forfeiture Until Conviction in Georgia
Jessica Szilagyi reports that a bill proposed in the Georgia legislature would halt civil asset forfeiture proceedings until the conclusion of any criminal proceedings. Civil forfeiture is a court process that enables a government entity to seize property and other assets belonging to individuals suspected of committing a crime.
March 5, 2020 Capitol Beat News
‘Hidden Predator’ bill widens lawsuit window for child sex abuse lawsuits in Georgia
Beau Evans reports that state lawmakers are mulling whether to broadly expand the statute of limitations in Georgia for people to sue who were sexually abused as children by members of businesses and nonprofit groups like the Catholic Church or Boy Scouts of America.
March 5, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bill seeking to regulate cosmetic surgery centers clears Georgia Senate
Maya T. Prabhu reports that Cobb County senator said she wants Georgia to better regulate cosmetic surgery centers, where botched procedures taken a number of lives in recent years. State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, a Marietta Republican, said “medispas” receive business licenses through the Secretary of State’s office, but — since they are not categorized as health care facilities — don’t have to adhere to state regulations.
